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Got a family trip to Black Sail YHA next weekend and are biking in from Ennerdale. I quite fancy heading up the hill for a couple of hours but will be on my hardtail and am, at best, an average MTBer.
Is this route :
http://www.pedalnorth.com/content/floutern-pass-and-scarth-gap
easy enough for a bloke with no skills and a hardtail to have a decent time on?
any other suggestions?
Thanks.
Gatesgarth up to the summit of Scarth Gap has some carrying but nothing too difficult. Most other good stuff in the area involves hikes and techie descents.
I've ridden a lot of routes in the Lake District, it's the best place for riding ever! This isn't one I'd be rushing back for. The descent to Buttermere is very technical (if you like pitched steps or steep screes then you'll like it), Mosedale is just boring and miserable (might be a bit better when it's not wet but i suspect it's really overgrown, i think we pushed for over an hour), the descent to Ennerdale is ok-ish. The ride along the shore of Ennerdale was nice, beautiful and remote but it's a double track. So take the kids bikes and explore Ennderdale, you'll enjoy that.
The footpaths around Buttermere are nice.
I'd personally be happy sitting around outside the YH with a beer in my hand. I don't think you'll get much reward for the effort of hike-a-biking from there..
You can ride both sides of Ennerdale and there's a bridleway along the east shore to the Scout camp. From Ennerdale village, head left and up Cold Fell, then look for the right turn to the riding school just after the cattle grid. Turn left after 30metres and it'll take you down into Uldale on some good single track, from which you can explore the trails on Dent Fell.
Thanks all. Boxelder, you really the the font of all lakes knowledge. I remember you helped me out with for advice last time
I love the climb/ descent up/from floutern tarn ,from the ennerdale side -definitely good for hardtail . Plus ,the mosedale valley is one of my favourite places in the world! It’s also worth having a look at cogra moss up to lamplugh fell and up on to Blake fell(cheeky but very very quiet& you can climb up there from the tarn) then aim for the northern edge of Holme wood. Then it would be rude not to pop through watergate farm to the Kirkstile inn for refreshments! Return via mosedale,crummock& buttermere. Then hike a bike over scarth gap home 🙂
I’m homesick now .have fun 🙂